When Nan Ke woke A’jiao, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon outside the window. Red clouds were layered densely like fish scales, stretching toward the nearby hills, leaving A’jiao with a sudden sense of breathlessness.
"Lower the window shutters," A’jiao said, sitting upright as she allowed Nan Ke to cleanse her face.
Yu Li and Mian Fu entered the room. Yu Li bowed and said, "My Lady, the two sets of garments the Empress sent yesterday are both soiled. For this evening’s banquet, you can only wear the clothes you wore when you first entered the palace." Yu Li lowered her head, bracing herself for punishment.
By right, even if the Weaving Chamber had not yet prepared a Lady’s formal attire, there should have been garments ready for the newly promoted candidates. Yet, for some reason, the Empress had not sent any, and the Emperor was unaware of the matter.
A’jiao gave a soft laugh. "Then I shall wear those." Chen Wan’s everyday clothes were naturally inferior to those provided by the palace, but if people saw her in them today, it remained to be seen who would truly lose face. Furthermore, she had heard that Wei Zifu had been exceptionally cautious over the years; she wondered who had orchestrated such a clumsy scheme.
After changing her clothes and simply pinning her hair into a drooping bun, A’jiao led her attendants toward Xuanqu Palace.
When Yang 得意 went to the bathhouse only to learn that the Chen woman had already headed to Xuanqu Palace with a train of palace maids, he wiped the sweat from his brow and returned to report. The Emperor remained silent for a moment before simply saying, "Understood."
A’jiao arrived at Xuanqu Palace early. Since everyone had witnessed the Emperor leading this woman away from the midday feast to a side hall, she was met with many suggestive glances.
To her surprise, a palace attendant led her to the very first seat below the Empress.
Many noblewomen came in pairs to exchange pleasantries with her. Though A’jiao did not recognize them, she responded to each with a smile.
When Grand Princess Longlü entered the hall with her son and daughter-in-law, A’jiao hesitated to approach, but Longlü came toward her instead. A’jiao quickly rose. "May the Grand Princess enjoy eternal joy."
Longlü looked at A’jiao with surprise and smiled. "I see Lady Chen’s attire today is... quite unique."
A’jiao covered her face with a bashful smile. "The Empress sent two sets of clothes yesterday, but today I... accidentally soiled them." Her smile carried a hint of embarrassment. "So I had no choice but to wear my own. Fortunately, the sisters in the palace didn't throw them away."
A flicker of surprise crossed Longlü’s eyes. She smiled and said, "This outfit suits you as well. You are young, after all—naturally beautiful."
Chen Xuan, standing behind Longlü, scoffed. "Empress Wei is quite stingy, giving a Lady only two sets of clothes. For a consort favored by His Majesty, even two sets a day would be considered too few."
"Chen Xuan, do not speak rashly of the Empress," Liu Ying’s voice rang out from the entrance.
Chen Xuan’s gaze shifted between Wei Qing, Liu Ying, Cao Zong, and the three sons of the Wei family. He sneered, "I heard this Lady is a relative of the Marquis of Changping. Since they are kin, why didn't Her Majesty show more care?"
Wei Qing looked toward A’jiao. Her current outfit was not even as fine as the one Yuan’er was wearing. How could she appear at the Emperor’s banquet like this?
A’jiao hadn't expected the sparks to fly before the banquet had even begun. She could only offer a greeting to Wei Qing with tearful eyes, saying, "Her Majesty is busy with many affairs; she surely gave the orders. It must be that the subordinates were preoccupied with the banquet and forgot for a moment."
Though Wei Qing would never allow the Wei family to lose face in such a situation, A’jiao truly lacked clothes. If she didn't push the issue now, she wouldn't even be able to step out of her room tomorrow. It was truly uncomfortable!
Wei Qing replied, "Quite right. The palace attendants must have forgotten in the rush."
The corner of Longlü’s mouth curled into a smile. "Indeed." She restrained Chen Xuan, who was about to speak again, and turned to walk away.
"Zhongqing, why are you standing at the door reminiscing with your sisters?" Liu Che’s laughter echoed from the entrance. Everyone in the hall hurried to pay their respects.
A’jiao turned to see Liu Che entering with Wei Zifu and their children. She lowered her head and took a few deep breaths, preparing to bow with the crowd. She had to protect Lord Yunhe and stay here for the long haul; no matter how much she resented it, this was how it had to be.
A hand caught her, preventing her from completing the bow.
Liu Che supported A’jiao and signaled for the others to rise.
Chen Xuan laughed from his seat. "Uncle, we were just saying how unique Lady Chen’s clothes are—so different from those in the palace."
Liu Che stepped back a couple of paces to look. Recognizing the clothes A’jiao had worn when she first entered the palace, he chuckled. "I only praised your beauty at noon, and you couldn't wait to put these back on? You truly have a temper." At noon, she had claimed not to care about him going to the Royal Lodging Garden, but clearly, she did. Was she wearing this specifically to make him linger on the tenderness of the past two days? Liu Che felt conflicted; since she had rarely made such a concession, perhaps he shouldn't go to the Royal Lodging Garden today...
A’jiao pulled her hand from Liu Che’s grasp and gave a radiant smile. "Is that so? Does your servant look good in this?" Internally, she sneered. With just a few casual words, the Emperor made it seem as though she were intentionally slandering Wei Zifu. During the day, he acted as if he were terrified she might misunderstand, yet now he was rushing to protect someone else!
Chen Xuan was about to speak again, but Princess I’an, Liu Chun, quickly stopped him to prevent him from offending the Emperor and Empress. Chen Xuan brushed off Liu Chun’s hand but sat back down obediently.
Liu Che smiled. "You look beautiful!"
Only then did Wei Zifu’s brow gradually relax. She thought to herself that this Chen girl was truly disobedient. To an outsider, it would look as though she, the Empress, was intentionally mistreating her.
A’jiao smiled. "I am young and fair; naturally, I look good in anything." With that, she turned to return to her seat. Wei Yuan, standing behind Wei Qing, watched the exchange with disdain. Suddenly remembering the argument from a few days ago, she couldn't help but speak up: "Sister Dangli, what is the matter? You look quite unhappy."
Wei Qing hadn't expected Wei Yuan to speak and his expression shifted instantly. "Yuan’er!" Wei Zifu’s expression also soured. Wei Qing had only learned at the beginning of the year that Liu Qing had been obsessively pursuing Chen Chuo, and he was quite dissatisfied with this niece. But here, in front of His Majesty, if Wei Yuan said anything, the Emperor would surely protect Liu Qing for the sake of imperial dignity.
Liu Qing gave Wei Yuan a cold look and sneered, "I was just thinking how some people use schemes to gain Imperial favor and enter the palace, only to use more foul tactics in public to frame my mother. It is truly seeking one's own humiliation."
A’jiao’s face darkened instantly. After a moment, she let out a cold laugh. "I have heard that back then, Her Majesty the Empress entered the Emperor's service while he was changing clothes at the Grand Princess of Pingyang’s estate..."
"Silence!" Liu Che and Liu Ju shouted simultaneously. Liu Ju’s voice was high, while Liu Che’s was low. Did this woman not realize that airing Wei Zifu’s old laundry in public was an insult to him, the Emperor? Liu Ju looked toward his father.
A’jiao stopped and smiled. "I admit my fault." Wei Zifu’s expression grew even worse, her gentle smile nearly crumbling. It had been many years since anyone dared to mention those events in her presence!
Liu Che paused and sighed. "Enough. Why is the family quarreling? Weichang, in terms of status, Lady Chen... Chen is of your mother’s generation. To be disrespectful and speak such malicious words is both unfilial and insolent. Go and offer her your apologies. When you return today, copy the *Classic of Filial Piety* once more and present it to Lady Chen." He had originally intended to observe the new batch of candidates, but now he had lost all interest.
Liu Qing froze, unable to believe her ears. Wei Zifu thought to herself how her daughter could be so mindless, but while she was vexed, she was also resentful that this "Chen Wan" dared to talk back like that.
A’jiao turned her head away.
Liu Che walked to the high seat and sat down.
Seeing that Liu Che truly intended for her to apologize, Liu Qing lowered her head, tears falling. Wei Zifu felt a pang of pity at the sight, but she could only signal for her to apologize to A’jiao.
With trembling lips, Liu Qing stepped forward a few paces, gave a stiff bow, and quickly returned to her seat, shooting a fierce glare at Wei Yuan as she did.
Wei Yuan mouthed the words "seeking your own humiliation" back at her, feeling immensely satisfied. As much as she had once liked this "gentle" elder cousin, she now found her equally disgusting. A Grand Princess, yet she had stooped so low as to covet her own cousin’s husband. Wei Yuan suddenly froze and looked back at Chen Chuo beside her. Seeing him frowning at her, her eyes grew hot, and she felt like crying.
The matter passed, and everyone took their seats to chat and laugh, as if nothing had happened.
A’jiao lowered her head. She didn't yet know how Wei Yuan and Liu Qing had fallen out; Wei Yuan used to admire Liu Qing greatly. It seemed Wei Qing and Wei Zifu knew the truth.
This whole affair had been started by Longlü and provoked by Chen Xuan, yet somehow the hatred had shifted onto her and Liu Qing.
A’jiao felt a headache coming on.
Enjoying the story? Rate this novel:
The Han Dynasty Empress is a Ghost | Chapter 84 | Discord at the Banquet | Novela.app | Novela.app
